Given their failure to return to the 1:1 Fair Play rule, FC Barcelona had to once again rely on the long-term injury of a player to register one of their summer signings in La Liga.Indeed, Marc-Andre ...
Given their failure to return to the 1:1 Fair Play rule, FC Barcelona had to once again rely on the long-term injury of a player to register one of their summer signings in La Liga.
Indeed, Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury for four months enabled the club to register new goalkeeper Joan Garcia, in a case similar to that of Dani Olmo’s registration last year by utilising Andreas Christensen’s injury-enforced absence.
Things got problematic for Barça in January as Olmo, as well as Pau Victor, were unregistered by La Liga, and the club had to then turn to the Higher Sports Council (CSD) to secure their registrations and continue playing them.
No risk of ‘Olmo case’ repeating with Garcia
However, according to SPORT, there will be no repeat of the ‘Olmo Case’ with Garcia. According to direct sources from both Barcelona and La Liga, the goalkeeper is officially registered until June, and there is no possibility of it being revoked in January.
Although Barcelona once again made use of the long-term injury rule, allowing them to use up to 80 per cent of the injured player’s salary, the situation differs from that of Olmo.
In Christensen’s case, the figures did not allow for Olmo’s full-season registration. With Ter Stegen and Garcia, however, the numbers fit correctly.
Barcelona used Ter Stegen’s injury absence to register Garcia. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Barcelona have therefore ensured Joan Garcia’s presence for the entire season without needing to unregister Ter Stegen at any point during his recovery.
Once both goalkeepers are fully fit, they will compete with Wojciech Szczesny for the starting spot at Barcelona, although the new signing is currently Hansi Flick’s first choice.
When will Garcia and Ter Stegen return?
Garcia suffered a knee meniscus injury last month and had to undergo arthroscopic surgery to address the issue. A recovery period of 5-6 weeks has been estimated for the 24-year-old.
While Barça had hoped that the Spaniard would return in time for the Clasico on 26 October, at the moment, the possibility is looking slim.
As for Ter Stegen, the German goalkeeper was reoperated on at the end of July to resolve persistent back problems.
The Barcelona veteran, who was briefly suspended from captaincy by the club owing to his initial refusal to give consent to the sharing of his medical report, is expected to return with medical clearance by late November or early December.
Category: General Sports
